Latest data has shown a 24% fall in the number of people sleeping rough in London compared to last year.

The CHAIN data reveals 8,329 people were seen rough sleeping by outreach workers in the capital in 2021/22.

While the biggest decrease was in those new to the streets (a 31% reduction), the number of those living on the streets – or returning to the streets after moving away – also dropped.

The statistics also show that more than 75% of the people seen had a support need with 50% having a mental health need and just over one in twenty (6%) of people recorded rough sleeping in 2021/22 were seen more than ten times by outreach workers.

Responding to the figures, Rick Henderson, CEO at Homeless Link, said: “Everyone deserves a safe place to live and the support they need to maintain it. Therefore, the continued drop in the number of people rough sleeping in the capital is greatly encouraging. The numbers are testament to the dedication of local authorities and homeless charities across London, who have gone above and beyond during the pandemic to provide stable accommodation and support to those who need it.

“But, over 8,000 people being forced to sleep rough over the year is still far too high. At the same time, the rise in the proportion of people living on the streets with a mental health need, shows more needs to be done to support people in the most complex situations.

“With the cost of living crisis starting to take hold and possibly pushing more people into homelessness in the near future, it’s vital that we keep pushing forward in the coming months to continue this progress.”